Summer prepare-ahead meals for 12-14 (including vegan and gluten free!)

[Foodplanner]

So we have a gang of people coming to stay at a family holiday cottage this weekend. 12 or possibly 14, including 4 kids, 2 vegans, 1 gluten free.

i don’t want to spend the whole time cooking and not seeing anyone! That has happened before!

any great recipe ideas? I’d like to prepare ahead this week. Happy to do vegan / gluten free versions (so two dishes). BBQ one night but salads etc could be fiddly. Veg lasagnas, shepherds pie, bolognaise easy to make ahead and I’m in my comfort zone there, but not very summery!!! Any suggestions? Thanks!

(might just do Cook one night!)

Self-assembly meals are the way forward I think, e.g. tacos, BBQ, cold tapas.

Then you can have gluten-free and vegan options where it's needed without making a whole other meal for them (assuming the GF is not celiac, otherwise there's a cross-contamination risk if everyone helps themselves).

And apart from the meat (there must be a man in your group who wants to BBQ!), it's mostly preparing rather than cooking, with lots that can be bought ready-made.

I also find that the more people you order for, the cheaper takeaways get per head, so a Chinese or Indian one night might not break the budget.

Veggie here!

Jacket potatoes - GF and vegan, can make loads in the oven. Then lots of toppings, or even a veggie and a meat chilli. Grated cheese, salad done!

Other meal is a take on a Ploughmans lunch - cold meat, cheese, houmous, olives, tomato, celery, apple, chutney, pickled onions, sausage rolls, Higgidy do vegan quiche, GF bread/crackers for those that need it, nice bread and crackers for everyone.

I think spag bol is fine all year round and lentil ones are great.

Taming Twins is a great food blog for family meals. I make this a lot https://www.tamingtwins.com/sausage-pasta-recipe/

Although I cook the pasta separately as I find it takes too long doing it all in one. I just cook meat and veggie sausages in the oven whilst make the pasta and sauce and then add them in at the end.

Could you ask each family to bring a plate of something?

I too was going to suggest a self-assembly idea like fajitas. Wraps incl some GF ones, a chicken chilli and a bean one. Both can be made ahead and heated on the day. Serve with grated cheese, lettuce, refried beans, sour cream, cooked rice etc.

Summer rolls. Can be made the day before if wrapped in cling film so they don't dry out. Lots of youtube videos on how to wrap them. I eat meat, but actually prefer them vegan and the wraps/noodles inside are GF also. Obviously just omit the prawns from this recipe and check everything is GF. https://www.recipetineats.com/vietnamese-rice-paper-rolls-spring-rolls/

If having a BBQ, do skewers. Veggie and meat versions, or have the ingredients out and people make up their own

Gazpacho soup. Made a day or so ahead and no reheating needed! Or for no prep at all, this one is delicious, vegan and GF: Alvalle Original Gazpacho 1L | Sainsbury's (sainsburys.co.uk)

Just roll do a gf ready rolled puff pastry which is also vegan. Super easy to use and you could make a couple of tarts, one vegan topped with caramelised onions and thyme or sliced tomatoes and drizzled with pesto and a second with your choice of veg and cheese or meat. (Tenderstem broccoli, and Parmesan, or roasted peppers, onions and manchego are both good.) you could caramelise onions/ roast veg etc ahead of time and then just assemble and bake on the day.

Not GF but couscous salad can be made ahead, same with pearl barley. Quiches (some crustless) made ahead/bought and frozen? Although not vegan. Potato salad can be made a day or so before.

Order a takeaway one night.

Thank you so much to all
of you @Hereallweek @MrsScotland @JC03745 @froomeonthebroom @AtleastitsnotMonday . Fantastic ideas here and great advice!

If you’re taking a deep dive - this chef went from making meat-heavy dishes to vegan and gluten free. There’s recipes from all eras on her website: https://chelseawinter.co.nz/recipes/

And your local library might have her cook books!